Thomson allegations denied

MARK COLVIN: Mr Thomson had the protection of parliamentary privilege, and he used it to make serious allegations against his former union colleagues, MPs and the media. Denials from the accused followed almost all the accusations.

In the Parliament, the Opposition tried to debate Mr Thomson's statement but were gagged by the Government.

So the question now is whether Mr Thomson's statement of defence has significantly changed the case.

Samantha Hawley reports.

SAMANTHA HAWLEY: Craig Thomson used an hour of parliamentary time to defend himself and the Opposition demanded time to respond. The Government gagged debate.

The Leader of Opposition business, Christopher Pyne, had to wait until Question Time to have his say.

CHRISTOPHER PYNE: Does the Acting Prime Minister agree with the Prime Minister that it is not appropriate for the Member for Dobell to participate in the Labor Caucus, but it is still appropriate for the Government to accept his vote in the Parliament?

WAYNE SWAN: They want to turn the Parliament into a kangaroo court for their own political purposes, because there's no institution, there's notprinciple that this Leader of the Opposition won't trash.

SAMANTHA HAWLEY: Christopher Pyne tried again to debate Mr Thomson's statement; the Leader of the House, Anthony Albanese, moved again to shut him down.

ANTHONY ALBANESE: I move that the Member be no longer heard.

(Jeers)

SAMANTHA HAWLEY: This time the Government didn't get the support of the independents but the Opposition didn't have the numbers to continue with its debate because it needs an absolute majority.

ANTHONY ALBANESE: Mr Pyne's end game is just to create chaos and a fervour that somehow there's issues around. It wouldn't have mattered what Mr Thomson said today, the Opposition wouldn't have been satisfied.

CHRISTOPHER PYNE: I think in terms of the court of public opinion it's more likely that people will believe Fair Work Australia than the unbelievable statement of the Member for Dobell today, which, quite frankly, has more conspiracies built upon conspiracy than I've ever heard in my 19 years in parliament.

SAMANTHA HAWLEY: He says if Mr Thomson's statement is found to be untruthful the Opposition may try to suspend him from the Parliament or refer the matter to the Parliamentary Privileges Committee.

The statement was never going to reduce the political heat on the Government. It was emotive and compelling viewing.

CHRIS BROWN: Everyone's been crying out for Craig Thomson to make a statement, and he's put his side of the story.

SAMANTHA HAWLEY: But his side of the story didn't provide answers, clarity or proof. The acting head of the Health Services Union, Chris Brown, says it's changed nothing.

CHRIS BROWN: That just raises for, I think, many people more questions than it answers.

SAMANTHA HAWLEY: As expected, under the protection of parliamentary privilege, Craig Thomson named names. In the firing line the Victorian Health Services Union official Marco Bolano, who Mr Thomson alleges set him up over allegations he used union credits cards to pay for prostitutes.

MARCO BOLANO: There was a conversation, not with Mr Thomson, there was a conversation with Mr Thomson's half-brother or step-brother. I don't know what he is precisely.

SAMANTHA HAWLEY: Mr Bolano says Mr Thomson is drowning in a river of delusion.

MARCO BOLANO: Mr Thomson, I don't remember the particulars, Mr Thomson had dudded us on a - or in my view, had dudded us on a demarcation dispute. I just found out, I saw his brother and I let it be known to his brother words to the effect of that Mr Thomson was dishonourable and had misled us. There was a bit of colourful language, but it was quite an insignificant interaction until now obviously.

No, no, no threats to set him up, no intention to set him up, no mention of hookers.

SAMANTHA HAWLEY: HSU whistleblower, Kathy Jackson, was also in the Mr Thomson's firing line after he questioned her use of union funds. She says she's gobsmacked by the address.

KATHY JACKSON: I feel quite sad for him and for his family. He's not - this is not the words of a sane person has far as I'm concerned.

SAMANTHA HAWLEY: As for Mr Thomson's claims against at Channel Seven, a spokesman says Seven denies allegations that reporters had been hovering under a bathroom window while Mr Thomson's wife was having a shower.

KATHY JACKSON: Obviously Mr Thomson doesn't understand how Fair Work Australia works. My partner's part of - the vice-president of Fair Work Australia. He has nothing to do with the regulatory arm.

SAMANTHA HAWLEY: Craig Thomson is not the only one in the spotlight. In signs of tit-for-tat, the Government's still demanding answers from Christopher Pyne over his dealings with James Ashby, the man who's accused the Speaker of sexual harassment.

CHRISTOPHER PYNE: Well I've answered all these questions over and over again. And the email that was revealed last week was so innocuous as to be boring.

SAMANTHA HAWLEY: The Government has also accused the Liberal backbencher, Craig Kelly, of failing to properly declare his interests in a number of companies. Charges he denies.